Morning Juice newsletter: Des Moines events candidate-free

Phew! Iowans, you can now breathe a sigh of relief ... a least for a little while. Now that we don't have to think about caucuses and elections, we can enjoy the rest of what Des Moines has to offer, candidate-free. Here's what's happening in the city.

What are you doing this morning? You should hurry on over to High Life Lounge's 12th annual Groundhog Day grand opening celebration on Feb. 2. Yes, there will be FREE BEER from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and breakfast will be served until 11 a.m.

Do you love bacon? Do you like being called the queen of things? You’re in luck. Juice is teaming up with the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival again for the 2016 Bacon Queen contest. Want to participate? Upload a fun Bacon Queen-worthy photo, and answer the short questionnaire by Feb. 10. Then, beginning at 12 a.m. Feb. 11, we’ll let readers vote (up to 10 times per day) for the ladies they deem worthy of the title.

Wait ... 2016, what you doin'? How is it February already? It feels like I was JUST bringing in the new year yesterday. Anywho, there's plenty to look forward to this month. Me personally, I'm looking forward to Naughty By Nature at Wooly's and the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival (because, who isn't?).